Dragon Ball Z: Kakarot

Dragon Ball Z: Kakarot is a major action RPG developed by the acclaimed studio CyberConnect2 and published by Bandai Namco Entertainment. Originally released on January 17, 2020, for PlayStation 4, Xbox One, and PC, the game has since expanded to Nintendo Switch (2021) and received native next-gen versions for PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X|S in early 2023. Known for its 'semi-open world' structure, the game divides the Dragon Ball world into massive hubs where players can fly, drive, and explore. It was designed to go beyond simple combat, allowing fans to live the life of the protagonist through a combination of traditional RPG mechanics and arena-style fighting.

The game follows the canonical story of Son Goku (Kakarot) from the arrival of the Saiyans on Earth through the climactic battle against Majin Buu. However, its narrative scope has grown significantly through three massive Season Passes. These expansions adapt the events of 'Battle of Gods' and 'Resurrection ‘F’', the tragic 'Future Trunks' timeline, and even go back to the roots of the series with the 23rd World Tournament. Recent updates have pushed the timeline further, covering the 'End of Z' arc with Uub and the 2025-2026 'Dragon Ball DAIMA' storyline, which sees Goku and his friends venturing into the Demon Realm after being transformed into 'minis'.

The gameplay is a hybrid of RPG exploration and 3D fighting. Players traverse large environments using flight or vehicles, engaging in activities like hunting dinosaurs or fishing—the latter of which Goku performs using an artificial tail. A deep cooking system, where Chi-Chi can prepare full-course meals, provides permanent stat boosts and temporary buffs. Character progression is managed through the 'Soul Emblem' and 'Community Board' systems, where placing character tokens in specific configurations unlocks passive bonuses. Combat is focused on unlocking Super Attacks at 'Training Grounds' using D-Medals, with 'Intermissions' between story sagas providing free-roam time to complete sub-stories and build character relationships.

CyberConnect2 developed Kakarot with the goal of creating the most comprehensive Dragon Ball experience to date. Using a specialized engine to replicate the anime's visual style, they focused on details often ignored in fighting games, such as the Z-Encyclopedia which catalogs lore, BGM, and character relationships. Since its 2020 debut, the game has been continuously supported for over six years. In 2026, developers announced that while the game's main content cycle was nearing its end, a spiritual successor titled 'Project AGE 1000' is in development, set to feature original character designs by the late Akira Toriyama.

Dragon Ball Z: Kakarot is one of the most commercially successful titles in the franchise's history. By January 2026, Bandai Namco officially announced that the game had surpassed 10 million copies sold worldwide. Critics have consistently praised the game for its faithfulness to the source material and the 'museum-like' quality of its Z-Encyclopedia. While some found the repetitive nature of the side quests a drawback, the emotional delivery of iconic scenes and the depth of the RPG systems have secured its legacy as a fan-favorite 'love letter' to the series.

For collectors, Kakarot offers several high-value targets. The original Collector's Edition is highly sought after for its exclusive Diorama Figure, featuring Goku and Gohan on the Flying Nimbus (Kinto-un) next to a dinosaur. Physical copies are becoming 'grails' for complete-in-box (CIB) collectors, especially the native PS5 and Switch versions that include early DLC. In late 2025, the game saw a crossover with the 'Dragon Ball Super Divers' card game, making limited-edition physical cards featuring Kakarot's game art a hot commodity on the secondary market. Collectors also look for the 'Soul Emblems' as a completionist digital goal, representing the total mastery of the game's expansive roster.